Well coupling and method of attaching the coupling of a well casing

ABSTRACT

A well coupling and method of connecting the coupling to a casing which includes a first coupler member having a vertical trackway at the sides thereof and a second coupler member having a plate thereon which slides in the vertical trackway through either end thereof and a stop on the plate which limits the movement of the plate in the trackway.

United States Patent [191 English WELL COUPLING AND METHOD OF ATTACHING THE COUPLING OF A WELL CASING [76] Inventor: Donald Hugh English, Box 82, RD.

1, Mt. Herman, NJ. 07825 [22 Filed: Aug. 31, 1973 211 App]. N8; 393,495

[52] U.S. CI 166/315, 166/85, 166/88, 285/325 [51] Int. Cl E2lb 33/03, E21b 43/00 [58] Field of Search 166/85, 88, 315; 285/18, 285/27, 325. 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,061 2/1916 Tregloune 285/325 [4 1 Mar. 4, 1975 7/1926 Foucault 285/325 1,592,093 2,689,611 9/1954 Martinson 166/85 2,918,972 12/1959 Tubbs 166/88 Primary E.\-aminer.lames A. Leppink Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herman, Bishoff & Platt [57] ABSTRACT A well coupling and method of connecting the coupling to a casing which includes a first coupler member having a vertical trackway at the sides thereof and a second coupler member having a plate thereon which slides in the vertical trackway through either end thereof and a stop on the plate which limits the movement of the plate in the trackway.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WELL COUPLING AND METHOD OF ATTACI-IING 1. Field of the Invention I The present invention relates to the freeze proof coupling of well pipes to a supply line positioned below the frost line.

2. Prior Art The present invention is an improvement over the patents to Martinson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,61 1 and Dicken, U.S. Pat. No. 2,946,385. Each of these patents is directed to a structure for coupling a well line to a buried frost free line by means of a below ground coupling which projects through the casing. In each of these patents, the coupling is dangled down the well by means of a line or wire such as is indicated at 44 in Dicken, and is then maneuvered until the nipple can be projected outwardly through the hole in the casing. The nipple is then provided with seals tightened by a nut to seal the coupling to the casing. The elbow portion of the coupling is then coupled to the wall pipe and to a section of pipe extending to the surface and this unit is lowered until a plate thereon engages in a guideway on the coupling. In Dicken a stop at the bottom of the guideway supports the second portion of the coupling and in Martinson, the wedge shape of the guideway and the plate as well as the stop 58 supports the elbow portion of the coupling in its aligned position with the nipple bore. Neither Dicken nor Martinson provide a positive means for manipulating the coupling to move the nipple through the bore of the casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a first coupling member is provided with a nipple on one side and a trackway on the opposite side adapted to receive a plate forming part of a second coupling member which can be inserted from either end of the trackway. The plate has a stop formed thereon to engage the first coupling member to align the bores in the first and second coupling members. In the method of connecting the coupling in a well system, the first and second coupling member are assembled with the stop underlying the first coupling member. A short section of pipe is attached to the normal underside of the second coupling member in its inverted position so as to extend toward the surface. With the elements in this position the coupling member is lowered into the well and the nipple on the first coupling member is easily positioned through the bore in the casing to permit the seals and fastening nuts to be secured thereto. After the first coupling member has been sealed to the casing, the second coupling member is pushed downwardly for a distance sufficient to disengage the plate from the trackway and is then raised back to the surface. The second coupling member is then inverted and has its lower end connected to the well pipe and its upper end connected to a handling pipe. The second coupling member, along with the well pipe and the handling pipe, is then lowered into the well until the plate on the second coupling member engages in the trackway on the first coupling member and moves downwardly therein until the stop on the second coupling member engages the top of the first coupling member.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a well coupler and method of attaching the same which 2 is positive in its action and can be quickly and easily assembled.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the coupling of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling positioned for initial attachment to the casing;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling about to be attached to the casing;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling secured to the casing and the second portion of the coupling about to be supported thereon; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the coupling secured to the casing and ready for operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates a well coupling constructed in accordance with the invention.

The well coupling 10 is adapted for use with a power pumping system in a well of the type which includes a casing 11 having a bore 12 formed therein at a point below the frost line of the surrounding earth. The coupling 10 includes a first coupling member 13 which includes a body 14 having a convex side 15 with a diameter correponding to the internal diameter of the casing I I.

An internally and externally threaded nipple 16 is integrally formed with the body 14 and extends outwardly from the convex side 15 thereof generally perpendicularly to the plane of the body 15. The side 17 of the body 14 opposite the convex side 15 is flat, and carries a pair of inturned flanges 18 on the opposite side edges thereof to form a pair of vertical trackways 19. The trackways 19 are the same width and breadth throughout their height for reasons to be assigned.

A neoprene gasket 20 is engaged over the nipple 16 between the body 14 and the casing 11. A second neo prene gasket 21 is engaged over the nipple 16 on the outer surface of the casing 11. A metallic contoured washer 22 is engaged over the nipple 16 in contact with the neoprene washer 21. A nut 23 is threaded onto the external threads of the nipple 16 to bind the first coupling member 13 to the casing 11 in sealed relation thereto. The nipple l6 and the body 14 have a bore 24 opening therethrough for reasons to be assigned.

A second member generally indicated at 25 of the coupling 10 includes a body 26 of generally cylindrical form. A vertical plate 27 is integrally formed on the body 26 and has a thickness to permit it to be slidably engaged in the trackways 19 on the body 14. The body 26 and plate 27 are provided with an elbow bore 28 which is internally threaded at 29 at the lower end of the body 26. An O-ring groove 30 is formed in the plate 27 surrounding the elbow bore 28 and an O-ring 31 is seated therein. An internally threaded blind bore 32 is formed in the body 26 at the upper end thereof in axial alignment with the internally threaded portion 29 of the elbow bore 28. A stop 33 is integrally formed on the upper end of the plate 27 and extends outwardly therefrom to engage the upper edge of the body 14 with the coupling in final position.

The method of assembling the coupling in a well is practiced as follows: First,.a short section of handling pipe 34 is threaded into the threaded portion 29 of the bore 28 with the second portion 25 of the coupling inverted. The first portion 13 of the coupling 10 is then assembled with its trackway l9 encompassing the side edges of the plate 27 and with the lower edge of the body 14 in engagement with the stop 33. The washers 21, 22 and nut 23 are disassembled from the nipple l6 and the coupling 10 is lowered into the well using the pipe 34 as a handle. The nipple 16 is engaged through the bore 12 and the washers 21, 22 and nut 23 are assembled thereon to lock the nipple 16 to the casing 11 in sealed relation thereto. The body 26 is then moved downwardly to disengage the plate 27 from the trackway 19, leaving the first member 13 of the coupling 10 coupled to the casing 11. The pipe 34 and the second member 25 of the coupling 10 are then raised from the well and the pipe 34 is disengaged from the body 26. The second member 25 of the coupling 10 is then inverted and secured to the upper end of the well pipe 35 which is threaded into the threads 29 of the bore 28. A pipe 36 is threaded into the blind bore 32 to serve as a handle for maneuverilng the pipe 35 and the second member 25 of the coupler 10. The pipe 35 and body 26 are lowered into the well with the plate 27 engaging in the trackway 19 until the stop 33 comes in contact with the top of the body 14. In this position the elbow bore 28 is aligned with the bore 24 to permit water to flow from the well pipe 35 out into a horizontal pipe (not shown) buried underground below the frost line. In the event that it becomes necessary to remove the coupling 10 from the well, the above procedure is merely reversed.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe coupler for connecting a pipe through a casing to a line comprising:

a. a first coupler member having on one side thereof a vertical trackway with two open ends;

b. a bore extending through said first coupler member for communicating said pipe to said line;

c. a second coupler member having a plate formed thereon and adapted for sliding movement in said trackway through either open end thereof; and

d. a stop formed on said plate to limit the movement of said plate through said trackway.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate is formed of uniform thickness and uniform width.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trackway comprises two parallel tracks of uniform width and breadth.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein sealing means is provided on said plate for sealing engagement with said first coupler section for sealing the connection between said plate and said first coupler section.

5. The method of attaching to a bore in a casing, at least one section of a two-section coupling of the type wherein the first section includes a nipple extending from a body and a trackway extending vertically on the opposite side of the body with a uniform width and breadth and a second section including a body having a uniform thickness plate integrally secured thereto with a stop formed at one end thereof including the steps of: g

a. assembling the first section onto the second section with the second section inverted to position the stop at the lower end thereof in supporting relation to the first section;

b. attaching a handle to said second section for jointly manipulating said first and second section;

0. lowering said sections into said casing; and

d. manipulating the coupling to project the nipple through said bore in the casing.

6. The method set forth in claim 5, further including the steps of:

a. securing the nipple to the casing; and

b. lowering the second section to disengage it from the first section.

7. The method set forth in claim 6, further including the steps of:

a. inverting the second section and securing it to a handle; and

b. lowering the second section to position the plate in the trackway with the stop engaging the top of the first section to support said second section on said first section.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of assembling said plate in said trackway with said stop engaging the top of said first section includes the step of sealing said first section and said second section 

1. A pipe coupler for connecting a pipe through a casing to a line comprising: a. a first coupler member having on one side thereof a vertical trackway with two open ends; b. a bore extending through said first coupler member for communicating said pipe to said line; c. a second coupler member having a plate formed thereon and adapted for sliding movement in said trackway through either open end thereof; and d. a stop formed on said plate to limit the movement of said plate through said trackway.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate is formed of uniform thickness and uniform width.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trackway comprises two parallel tracks of uniform width and breadth.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein sealing means is provided on said plate for sealing engagement with said first coupler section for sealing the connection between said plate and said first coupler section.
 5. The method of attaching to a bore in a casing, at least one section of a two-section coupling of the type wherein the first section includes a nipple extending from a body and a trackway extending vertically on the opposite side of the body with a uniform width and breadth and a second section including a body having a uniform thickness plate integrally secured thereto with a stop formed at one end thereof including the steps of: a. assembling the first section onto the second section with the second section inverted to position the stop at the lower end thereof in supporting relation to the first section; b. attaching a handle to said second section for jointly manipulating said first and second section; c. lowering said sections into said casing; and d. manipulating the coupling to project the nipple through said bore in the casing.
 6. The method set forth in claim 5, further including the steps of: a. securing the nipple to the casing; and b. lowering the second section to disengage it from the first section.
 7. The method set forth in claim 6, further including the steps of: a. inverting the second section and securing it to a handle; and b. lowering the second section to position the plate in the trackway with the stop engaging the top of the first section to support said second section on said first section.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of assembling said plate in said trackway with said stop engaging the top of said first section includes the step of sealing said first Section and said second section together. 